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BIOGRAPHY
"My paintings are a conceptual journey of spirit and nature. The history of our landscape and its' legendary fables can be found in every culture around the world. Some of these stories are romantic, some are tragic, and some are pure magic. These are the elements I wish to portray in my work." - Katie Balas Katie Balas (BAY-las) knew at an early age that she wanted to be an artist. She went to school for graphic design, excelled in illustration and photography, won student art shows, and worked in the field for over ten years. She was successful in her ventures but found the work was not as gratifying as expressing her own ideas on canvas. It was not until 2003 that Katie began painting again. She was returning to the freedom she had found with her palette of acrylic colors and glazes. Working from her home studio, where she can be a mom, wife and artist, she draws from her experience in graphic design to give balance and consistency to her contemporary painting style. She is known for the impressions she makes in her paintings by meticulously ‘carving’ her visions into the paint. This technique, which is of her own creation, gives her paintings an organic, fossilized look that is very distinct and is the signature style for which she has become recognized for. Her subject matter consists of conceptual landscapes, natural elements such as earth and water, environmental issues, and galactic enigmas. The paintings are also impossible to duplicate in color and texture. This, along with her unique style, has made her work highly collectible. In January of 2007, Kaizaad Kotwal, art critic for the Columbus Dispatch, described her work as "an intoxicating combination of elements, from the more Spartan Japanese prints to the vivid color-field explorations of modernists such as Mark Rothko". Click on the following link to read the entire review: www.dispatch.com In January 2008, Art Business News, a communicating solutions magazine for the art marketplace, featured Katie in their ‘Trendsetters - Emerging Artist‘ section. You can also see part of the article on the ABN website by clicking on the link below: When asked who her greatest influences are, Katie's reply is as follows: "Like every other artist in the world, I look to the great artists of the past to be inspired. My favorites are Edvar Munch, Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Rothko, M.C. Escher, and Frank Lloyd Wright. But, the most influential entity for which the soul of my work comes from is not from another artist, but from our surroundings. My latest works are depictions of the stories of ancient trees. Trees are a common entity throughout the human race, a universal symbol found in spiritual and mythological cultures around the world. Trees have been perceived in every way possible. Some legendary fables are romantic, some are tragic, and some are pure magic. These are the elements I wish to portray in my new works." In just a few years, Katie has created a name for herself and her work with pieces in private and corporate collections across the U.S. and Canada. Her greatest achievement of 2005 was an exclusive contract with TechniGraphic's Corporate headquarters in Wooster, Ohio. She was commissioned for 33 original paintings to be hung throughout the 30,000 square foot building. In 2008, the owners of TechniGraphics, Dee and Mary Vaidya, decided to expand their building another 30,000 square feet. Katie has agreed to a commission of several more original paintings to make an artistic impact on the interior of the new space. The building is scheduled for completion at the end of this year.
Katie's award winning work has been featured in solo exhibits as well as combined exhibits throughout the United States, and she is adding more events every year. Katie is available
for private consultation for commissioned
work in residential and corporate spaces, or you can purchase a piece in her current inventory from the store. |
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